Feb. 12, 1885] 



NA TURE 



345 



These manifestations of volcanic energy were continued 

 far into what, geologically speaking, are recent times, and 

 the geologists may view the small cones in many instances 

 as perfectly preserved as when they were at work. 



" The most interesting relic of the reign of fire is pre- 

 sented by the beautiful crater lake of Chala, which lies 

 a short distance to the east of the base of Kimawenzi, 

 and only a few miles north of Taveta. It represents 

 probably the latest manifestation of energy, extending 



indeed into historical times, as the natives have a tradition 

 that at one time a great Masai village stood on its site 

 and was blown into the air, and they will now tell you 

 that at times you may still hear from its liquid depths the 

 lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep, as well as 

 other village sounds. The shape of the lake is that of 

 an irregular polygon, about two miles in diameter and 

 little short of six miles in circumference. It occupies the 

 centre of a small hill with very irregular rim, 400 feet 





>. — Lava Cap,' Elgeyo Escarpment. 



above the eastern plain at its lowest point, and quite 800 

 at its highest, where it runs up into a peak. The outer 

 slopes are formed by beds of lapilli and tuff, which in- 

 cline away all around at the same angle as the hill itself. 

 Internally the lake is bounded by perfectly perpendicular 

 cliffs without a break at any point, at least as far as I 

 could discover, though the natives of Taveta say there is 

 a place where the descent can be made : indeed, its dis- 



coverer, New, declares that he reached the water, and 

 drank of it. I went all around it, and though I am not 

 deficient in enterprise or nerve, I saw no place where I 

 dare descend, not even though I could have swung from 

 creeper to creeper like a monkey." 



From Kilimanjaro Mr. Thomson proceeded in a 

 northerly direction, through the heart of the Masai 

 country, to Lake Baringo, making a colour eastwards to 



3-G1. 



M ount Kenia, which in some respects is even more inte- 

 resting than Kilimanjaro. From Lake Baringo he pro- 

 ceeded as far westwards as the north-east shore of 1 

 Victoria Nyanza, not many miles from the outlet of the 

 Nile ; then north to some strange artificial caves on the 

 south face of Mount Elgon or Ligonyi (14,000 feet), and 

 by Mount Chibcharagnani (12,000 feet), back to Baringo, 

 and so south-eastwards to the coast, following a more I 



northerly route after passing Lake Naivasha, which is just 

 about half-way between Kilimanjaro and Lake Baringo, 

 Of course this excellent piece of work was not accom- 

 plished without many trials and sufferings. The fierce 

 and warlike Masai threatened many a time to eat Air. 

 Thomson and his men up, and it was only by the most 

 wonderful tact and patience that the expedition succeeded 

 in accomplishing its work without 'oss of life. The Masai 



